Triumphant end to Long's march

Page Tools

With aching limbs and blistered feet, Michael Long walked the
last leg of his journey through Canberra yesterday, joined by 300
supporters and politicians, including Labor leader Mark Latham.

Wearing a T-shirt saying, "Where is the love", the former
Essendon footballer received a rapturous welcome in the nation's
capital. But not so outside the nation's Parliament.

Long set out from Melbourne on November 21, seeking a better
deal for indigenous people. He arrived in Albury on Tuesday then
drove to Canberra after arranging a meeting today with Prime
Minister John Howard.

But at Parliament House yesterday, security guards forced him
and his supporters to remove an Aboriginal flag they were carrying
while posing for photographs in the forecourt.

Labor's parliamentary secretary for indigenous affairs, Warren
Snowdon, said the flag was recognised as an official flag under the
Flags Act.

Speaker of the House of Representatives David Hawker has agreed
to find who authorised the security guards' actions against
Long.

Mr Howard yesterday signalled there would be no change in the
Government's policies on indigenous issues.

He said the Government's hand-picked National Indigenous Council
was its principal source of advice on indigenous issues. The
council is to replace the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Commission.

Long said he was seeking a formal commitment from Mr Howard to
work with indigenous people to improve their future.

"It is a national state of emergency and I beg for his mercy to
help us," he said. "Because our people, my people, your people are
dying in our backyards... It's not just my problem, it's our
problem."

Mr Latham congratulated the sports hero for lifting the profile
of indigenous issues. "Everyone's got to think about and work hard
for solutions for indigenous Australians, ending poverty and making
sure we've got genuine reconciliation," he said.

Other politicians joining the march included Labor MP Peter
Garrett, Greens leader Bob Brown and the only Aborigine in
Parliament, Democrats senator Aden Ridgeway.

"It's often the simple things like deciding to walk from
Melbourne to Canberra that captures the imagination of the nation,"
Senator Ridgeway said. "The Prime Minister is the only one that can
show leadership and not appeal to an existing prejudice."

The Government's sole representative was Bill Heffernan who has
been actively lobbying Long to reconsider the Government's offer to
join its indigenous council. "Longy is a shining example of how you
can make the most of life," he said.

But Long said he consulted his elders, who advised against
it.

Former Victorian premier Joan Kirner attended a barbecue after
the walk, and said Long had been inspirational.

"It's really sad that it coincided with Palm Island, but it
makes the point that the situation is now drastic," she said.
"We're at six minutes to midnight, so let's hope this will act as a
wake-up call."